Iraqi vice-president convicted of running death squads rejects verdict

BAGHDAD - Iraq's fugitive Sunni vice-president says the terror trial that convicted him of masterminding death squads against rivals was illegitimate and is accusing the nation's Shiite prime minister of being behind it.

Tariq al-Hashemi maintained his innocence today at a news conference in Turkey, where he is in exile.

Al-Hasemi was convicted Sunday of organizing death squads that killed a Baghdad lawyer and a government security official.

The Baghdad court sentenced him to death by hanging.